Relic of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle in pure sterling silver reliquary

The reliquary is accompanied by its original Roman ecclesiastical Authentica, dated 4 August 1908, issued under the authority of Cardinal Pietro Respighi (1843–1913), Cardinal-Priest of Santi Quattro Coronati and Vicar General of Rome, one of the highest ecclesiastical offices in the Diocese of Rome.

Cardinal Respighi had been created Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII in 1899 and served as Cardinal Vicar of Rome from 1900 until his death in 1913.

Dimensions of the theca: 3 × 2.5 cm.

Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, is traditionally identified with Nathanael in the Gospel of John, whom Christ praised as a man “in whom there is no deceit.”

Ancient Christian traditions associate his missionary preaching with regions extending eastward from the Roman world, particularly Armenia, where he has long been venerated as one of the founders of the Armenian Church.

According to ancient tradition, Saint Bartholomew suffered martyrdom for the Christian faith. His relics have been venerated for centuries, with an important Roman tradition centered on the Basilica of Saint Bartholomew on the Island (San Bartolomeo all’Isola).

This important relic is preserved in an elegant solid sterling silver oval theca, containing a substantial sacred fragment identified as belonging to Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, mounted beneath glass and accompanied by its original identification label.

All original threads and ecclesiastical seals remain intact. The relic is accompanied by its original Authentica, dated 1908, preserving the integrity and documented ecclesiastical provenance of this exceptional ensemble.